The Metropolitan Museum of Art Opens Controversial Costume Art Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City opened a new exhibition, Costume Art, on May 7, 2024. The exhibition, housed in the museum's newly renovated Condé M. Nast Galleries, features around 200 garments paired with art objects from the Met's collection to explore the relationship between clothing and the body.

The exhibition is organized into several sections, each focusing on a different aspect of the body, including 'Naked and Nude Body,' 'Anatomical Body,' 'Abstract Body,' 'Aging Body,' 'Mortal Body,' and 'Epidermal Body.' Some of the pairings, such as diaphanous Grecian-style gowns coupled with ancient Greek vessels, effectively demonstrate the exhibition's theme.

However, many other pairings have been criticized for being forced, superficial, or questionable. For example, clothing by Chet Lo, who collaborated with people with blindness and vision disabilities for his Spring 2025 collection, is juxtaposed with Pablo Picasso's painting 'The Blind Man's Meal' (1903). A limestone votive ear with the inscription 'I belong to a deaf person' (4th–3rd century BCE) is displayed alongside a 'Deaf Dysmorphia' garment.

Curator in Charge Andrew Bolton stated that the exhibition aims to enable visitors to experience the objects 'through the lens of fashion, so the art becomes embodied.' The exhibition runs until August 18, 2024.

CONTEXT: The Costume Art exhibition is the first major show in the newly renovated Condé M. Nast Galleries, which are adjacent to the Met's Grand Hall. The exhibition has sparked debate among art critics and visitors, with some praising its innovative approach to exploring the relationship between clothing and the body, while others criticizing its organization and some of the pairings. The exhibition is part of the Met's ongoing efforts to integrate its Costume Institute more closely with the rest of the museum's collection and to explore new ways of presenting fashion as art.